College and Major: Auburn University College of Human Sciences, Dietetics
Hometown: Citronelle, Alabama
Career Goals: Pursue my master’s degree and become a registered dietitian
Hobby or Fun Fact: I love to cook and figure out how to make an unhealthy dish healthier. I can play the ukelele and know how to sew and macrame. I also have a fiddle leaf fig tree named Gerald.
Follow Arianna’s Internship Journey
Helping with a 4-H Event
I was able to help out the 4H agent, Mrs. Adeline, with a 4H event with the children who received a chick on chick day. I helped make the hotdogs for the children, practicing my new food safety skills, and then I was able to scoop out ice cream for them. After that I helped set up learning activities with different chicken parts, and we learned about where and how to vaccinate chickens properly. I passed out the chicken wings when for this activity.
Build a Burger
Morgan, the summer intern for horticulture, Mrs. Rebecca, and I all worked together for the Build a Burger group session on Ag Safety Day. It was so much fun. Each of us had a few parts of the burger that we discussed and got the children engaged in. Afterwards, we had a fun build a burger relay that Mrs. Rebecca made up. After that, Morgan and I were able to continuing helping with ice cream in a bag.
June 4 —Conecuh County Road Trip
Of course it was another fun day with the fabulous Mrs. Rebecca Catalena! I have the best mentor. She makes work so much more fun. She lights up a room with her funny, outgoing character. We had a fun road trip to Evergreen, Alabama for a cottage food law class. I got to help set up for this class and teach the food safety portion. Mrs. Rebecca has been giving me tips on public speaking, and I have learned so much from her. I actually was able to implement a story from my own life to help relate to the audience. After the class we went to the Conecuh Sausage store! It was so awesome and is going to be a new halfway stop when traveling to and from Auburn.
May 23 — 4H Chick Day
Such a fun day! I got to help the 4H chicken club members get their new chicks. We talked about all things chickens, and I learned about my new favorite chicken breed: Polish chickens. I also got to know more about Mrs. Mary Joe, who is a 4H Extension agent. She is such a joy and has a big heart for animals and is so wise in plants and landscaping. I learned that she was a Master Gardener for several years and that she was head over a local Mobile garden. I also got a name tag which made me feel more official as a summer intern lol.
May 10 — Southwest SET Quarterly Meeting
As part of my internship, I had the opportunity to attend the Southwest SET Quarterly Meeting at Five Rivers Delta. This meeting is a gathering where all the regional Extension agents and county Extension coordinators come together to discuss barriers or problems they’ve been facing, learn about new policy changes, and explore new methods of operation. Here are a few key takeaways from the meeting:
- Understanding Extension: I learned the importance of knowing what Extension is and its role in the community.
- Speaking Up: The meeting highlighted the value of not being afraid to speak up about certain issues.
- Collaboration: Collaborating with fellow workers is crucial for overcoming challenges.
- Team Building: Finding ways to connect as a team outside of work enhances teamwork and camaraderie.
After the meeting, we went on a boat ride through the Delta, where we learned about some fascinating historical facts, including details about the Battle of Blakeley. It was an informative and enjoyable experience, blending professional development with a bit of local history.
May 9 — pH Research and Hands-On Activities
My fourth day as an intern was a mix of research and hands-on activities. I spent the morning researching more about acidity and pH for canning. I also prepared for the upcoming ServSafe classes by accommodating materials for participants whose first language is Spanish, creating folders with their study materials. In the afternoon, I helped with last-minute educational activities for kids visiting the Extension office. I assisted with an interactive handwashing lesson, using a special glow lotion to represent germs. Mrs. Rebecca set up handwashing visuals around the room and had the kids rotate based on their shirt colors. She used a blue light to show the germs and asked them to guess the correct handwashing order. At the end of the day, we asked the students what they had learned. They were excited to share their new knowledge, from proper handwashing techniques to interesting bee facts from a bee program they attended. It was a fun and engaging day!
May 8 — Office Day
My third day as an Extension intern was all about office work. I got to meet Mrs. Kay, who handles a lot of the behind-the-scenes work at the Mobile County Extension office. One of my tasks was stapling publications for the upcoming Eco Wild workshop this weekend. I also spent some time reading up on pH for canning and cottage food law for a publication that I will be coauthoring. It was interesting diving into these topics and thinking about how to communicate them effectively. Later, I helped Mrs. Rebecca set up for upcoming ServSafe classes. I saw firsthand how organized an Extension agent needs to be, especially when it comes to printing and filing participants’ receipts to track attendance, provide extra verification, and check for any needed accommodations. I also learned about GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) guidelines, which are food safety protocols that farmers must follow. Overall, it was a productive day, and I gained a deeper understanding of the behind-the-scenes work that makes these programs successful.
May 7 — Road Trip and Workshop Fun
The second day of my internship was a mix of travel and hands-on experience. Mrs. Rebecca Catalena, Mr. Jack LeCroy, and I hit the road to Monroeville, Alabama for the Garden to Pantry workshop. When we got there, I jumped in to help set up tables, organize papers, wash strawberries, and prep croissants for participants to try with the jelly. I also met Mrs. Alexia, the nutrition regional Extension agent for Baldwin County. We had a great chat about nutrition while she made delicious smoothies for everyone. As participants arrived, we helped them get settled and introduced ourselves. Mr. Jack shared some awesome gardening tips while we finished preparing for the canning workshop. My job was to hand out napkins and assist wherever needed. It was cool to see everyone crushing strawberries and getting into the process.
Mrs. Rebecca led the jelly-making session, guiding everyone as they poured their jelly into jars and placed them in the water bath canner. I timed the boiling process for 10 minutes, and soon we were all enjoying the amazing strawberry kiwi jelly on croissants and the delicious fruit leather that Mrs. Rebecca had made. I also got a chance to practice my educational skills by discussing the nutritional benefits of the chia seeds included in the fruit leather. After the workshop, we cleaned up, packed everything, and headed back to Mobile. On the way, I had the chance to chat more with Mr. Jack and Mrs. Rebecca, getting to know them better. It was a fun and productive day, and I’m excited for what’s next!
May 6 — My First Day
My first day of my summer internship with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System was a success! Walking into the office, I felt nervous, but that quickly changed as I was warmly welcomed by the team. Mrs. Cindy, who is the Mobile County Extension coordinator, and Mrs. Diane, who is the administrative support associate, sat and talked with me, making me feel at home. Then my mentor, Mrs. Rebecca Catalena, arrived full of energy and joy, and we started our day. I toured the office and met all the kind and helpful Extension agents. After settling at my desk, Mrs. Rebecca, the regional Extension agent for food safety, and I discussed our goals for the week and got to know each other better. We then jumped into preparing for tomorrow’s Garden to Pantry workshop. I cut up kiwis and ginger and cooked blueberries for fruit leather and jelly. I also did a little research on proper canning, so I could see what Mrs. Rebecca would be talking about tomorrow. It was a fun and engaging start to my internship. Overall, it was a fantastic first day, and I’m excited for what’s to come!
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College and Major: Auburn University College of Human Sciences, Nutrition/Dietetics
Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama
Career Goals: I would love to work in chronic disease prevention. My dream is to be a diabetes educator and become a registered dietitian.
Hobby or Fun Fact: My favorite hobbies include singing and playing guitar. Music is such a good stress-reliever, and I absolutely love it. If I was not studying nutrition, I probably would have done something music related.
Follow Janie’s Internship Journey
May 30
So far, one of my favorite parts of my internship has been helping out at the Extension table at the Phenix City Farmers Market. We offered many free resources from cooking books to gardening resources and supplies that individuals could take home. Our table included Extension members across many disciplines, from agriculture to nutrition. My favorite part of the entire experience was having one-on-one discussions with the visitors, who were excited to talk all things gardening, nutrition, and cooking. I offered some of my personal nutrition and gardening knowledge and many people were excited to learn something new!
Engaging in these conversations is honestly my favorite part of Extension work. No matter where we travel, there are always conversations to be had and people who are more than willing to learn something new, as well as teach us! It makes my day to see how excited individuals are to talk about their passions and learn from the resources we provide. What a gift to be part of Extension!
College and Major: Auburn University College of Agriculture, Agricultural Science with a minor in Horticulture
Hometown: Eastaboga, Alabama
Career Goals: I would like to attend Graduate school at Auburn or work with Extension.
Hobby or Fun Fact: During the school year, I am employed at the ACES/College of Ag IT Helpdesk.
College and Major: Auburn University College of Human Sciences, Nutrition and Dietetics
Hometown: Enterprise, Alabama
Career Goals: My goal is to attend graduate school, complete my dietetic internship, and become a registered dietitian with a specialization in pediatrics.
Hobby or Fun Fact: My favorite hobby is crochet. I am fairly new to it, but I love to make small things like flowers, coasters, and decorations.
Follow Sarah’s Internship Journey
June 12
In Alabama, agriculture is everything! From farmer’s markets and grocery stores to neighborhoods and households, agriculture is connected to all. Because ag is so central to the local lifestyle, Extension seeks to educate and encourage the 4-H youth of Alabama to see the value of agriculture in their lives. Thus, the Poultry Project was born!
This 4-H project teaches children about poultry by giving them their very own chicks to raise and even show during the showmanship part of the programming. The families could choose between Rhode Island Reds, Wyandottes, Easter Eggers, or a mix of all three. On June 12, families from across multiple counties lined up at the Pike County Cattleman Park to participate. ACES staff from each of the counties were there and ready to greet them and organize orders.
As an Extension Intern, I helped unload, monitor, and distribute the chicks to their new owners. As cute as those sweet baby chicks were, my favorite part was seeing the children’s faces light up when we handed them their feathery friends. Their smiles and excitement made me realize how Extension positively impacts the community. Assisting this project was a fun, educational, and fulfilling experience. The children were so sweet, and the Extension team was a joy to work with. Meeting other ACES personnel, local families, and chickens was an excellent opportunity!